RAAF Base Amberley

I1 i3

I6 i7 i10 i12

RAAF Base Amberley ( ICAO: YAMB ) is a military airfield of the Royal Australian Air Force 8 km southwest of Ipswich and 50 miles south-west of Brisbane in Queensland.

History

During the Second World War the place was a base of the 5th Air Force of the USAAF. With the Allied advance against Japan in the Southwest Pacific, these units relocated further north to front nearby bases.

Between 1973 and 2010 Amberley was home base of the Australian General Dynamics F-111C/RF-111C/F-111G who flew last at the 6th Squadron. Australia was the only export customer of this heavy fighter bomber, the USAF had already retired more than ten years earlier.

The first five copies of the successor model of the F- 111, the Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet, were ordered by the 2007 24 pieces, met in late March 2010 in Queensland. The initial operational capability of the first unit, 1st Squadron, was reached early December 2010, at that time were already fifteen copies on site. The remaining machines were followed until October 2011 and with the full operational capability of both squadrons RAAF expects the end of 2012. Copies are 12 to EA -18G upgraded.

Amberley has been modernized in recent years, because in addition to Super Hornets the RAAF operates here also two new large transport aircraft. The used of the 36th Squadron strategic transport aircraft of type Boeing C -17A Globemaster III are stationed here since 2006. Your first four aircraft were with humanitarian missions too busy for early 2011 (Brisbane, Christchurch and Japan) that two other copies were ordered. From the end of May 2011, the 33rd Squadron ran to five new Airbus tanker aircraft KC- 30A.

Amberley largest squadron in terms of staff strength is 23 (City of Brisbane ) Squadron, a Reserve unit. There are also various other non-flying associations. A total of 3,500 soldiers are currently stationed, so that Amberley is the largest base of operations of the RAAF.

According to 2020 only as an interim solution procured Super Hornets, as well as the 70 older Hornets, who are stationed on other RAAF bases are replaced by Lockheed Martin F -35 Lightning II.